No Magic in Small Plans: Racing Across the Atlantic in a Rowboat

There are demanding rowing races, and then there is a category of extreme rowing events. One of the most intense of those races is the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge. Solo rowers, pairs, trios and teams of 4 and 5 participants depart from La Gomera — one of Spain’s Canary Islands near the coast of Morocco — and row about 3,000 nautical miles west across the Atlantic Ocean to English Harbor on the Caribbean island of Antigua.

Four groups of pairs started the race near midday Dec. 12, 2018. The winning pair was the Danish “Wolfpack Gym powered by Garmin” team, which included Mads Vangsø, a former radio and TV host, and military veteran Lt. Lasse Wulff Hansen.

Equipping
the Boat and Staying Safely on Course

Crossing the Atlantic requires more than oars
and an ordinary rowboat. Competitors in the Atlantic Challenge race in 7.5-meter
specialized rowboats with storage space, a sleeping compartment and solar
panels to power gear.

The equipment allowed the team to monitor weather conditions, navigate their route and provide live tracking via their inReach device on a MapShare™ page that their friends and families could visit to follow their journey and stay in touch. In addition, if the need ever arose, they could have utilized the SOS feature of their inReach to communicate the need for a rescue.

Two duty officers on land monitored the teams,
and 2 yachts followed the rowers as they crossed the Atlantic. Still, the
distance the boats traveled and the space between each team made for a lonely
and challenging voyage. Waves often reached 20’ high, and attention to staying
on course was required day and night.

The pair also needed to eat and drink. Before
departing, they loaded their boat with the equivalent of 744,000 calories of
food. They used a seawater purifier to produce drinking water to provide the 10
liters of water they needed to drink each day.

Extreme
Endurance and Reward

In addition to the customized boat, the trip required mental
resilience and physical stamina. Routinely, 1 rowed alone for 2 hours while the
other slept in a small compartment. They continued this rotation for the
majority of the race while enduring isolation and seasickness.

As the pair approached the end of their journey
across the Atlantic, they thought about being reunited with their families.
They crossed the finish line after rowing for 49 days, 2
hours and 29 minutes. The next closest pair — from the U.K. — finished more
than a day later. In all, 46-year-old Vangsø lost about 35 lbs (16 kg) and
31-year-old Hansen lost 50 lbs (23 kg).

On his website, Vangsø wrote a compelling statement about making a commitment to complete a goal such as racing in the Atlantic Challenge. Roughly translated, it reads, “There is no magic in small plans. Large targets, on the other hand, boil the blood in humans and light the inner glow.”

To access the Iridium satellite network for live tracking and messaging, including SOS capabilities, an active satellite subscription is required.NOTICE: Some jurisdictions regulate or prohibit the use of satellite communications devices. It is the responsibility of the user to know and follow all applicable laws in the jurisdictions where the device is intended to be used.